Supervisors ask D.A. for broader look at City of Industry dealings

Los Angeles County supervisors voted Tuesday to call for an investigation into possible corruption in the embattled City of Industry, including any dealings officials there might have had with surrounding cities.

Supervisors Hilda Solis and Michael D. Antonovich proposed that the board send a letter to Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey calling for an investigation into “possible fraud, corruption and illegal activity on the part of the mayor and City Council of the City of Industry.”

The prosecutor, however, is apparently already doing that: City of Industry officials said Friday that district attorney investigators have contacted the city about municipal contracts that have generated more than $326 million in payments to businesses owned by former Mayor David Perez and his family over the last 20 years.

Residents of the neighboring city of Pomona called on the board to also push for an investigation into Perez’s business dealings in that city, including a proposed waste transfer station. Several residents spoke of health concerns about the proposed facility’s location near a school and residential areas.

“Low-income residents live around this area and I believe the Perez family is trying to build this facility here because they disregard our health, especially because they might think we don’t have a larger voice because we don’t have more money,” resident Chris Gutierrez said.

In response, Solis broadened her proposal to include calling for an investigation into the cities and unincorporated areas surrounding Industry.

The supervisors will also ask the state controller to investigate the city’s transactions.

Follow Abby Sewell on Twitter at @sewella for more county news.